Window solarium



A ril 7, 1964 F. c. ROMENKO wmnow SOLARIUM Filed May 11, 1962 INVENTORFred C. Romenko T BY wnmgz u Manda ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,127,697 WINDOW SOLARIUM Fred C. Romenko, Locust, NJ. WillowbroekC0rp., Newmansprings Road, Lincroft, NJ.) Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No.194,089 3 Claims. (ill. 47-40) This invention relates to a windowsolarium or conservatory for plants and more particularly to a windowsolarium wherein the temperature, humidity, and air circulation may becontrolled to promote the healthy growth of the plants situated therein.

Window solariums or conservatories are box-like units which are attachedto the exterior of a window frame. The function of a solarium is tocreate a protected space which provides a suitable environment in whichplants may grow. To meet this purpose, a solarium usually has threesides, a top and a bottom. When the solarium is attached to a windowframe, the window substantially defines the fourth side. Access to thesolarium is through the window which may be opened and closed.

A solarium is provided with glazed areas to permit the entrance ofsunlight. The solarium is also provided with one or more variablyadjustable ventilators which permit the circulation of air within thesolarium. Located within the solarium are a plurality of shelves ofracks upon which the plants are situated.

What has heretofore been lacking in window solariums is a convenientmeans for achieving a uniform and generally stable environment mostconducive to healthy plant growth. It is known that several factors areimportant in establishing the proper environment: temperature, humidity,sunlight, and ventilation. For proper plant growth it is important tohave these factors combine to maintain a substantially uniformenvironment not subject to quick or radical changes. Such harmfulchanges might result from drop in temperature of the outside air, strongor gusty wind conditions, or excessive precipitation. This inventionenables the owner to anticipate and meet adverse atmospheric conditionsand to maintain substantially uniform environmental conditions withinthe solarium by making adjustments in the uniquely positionedventilators.

Broadly, this development is for a window solarium having oppositelyhinged upper and lower ventilators, the adjustment of which enables theuser to maintain a substantially uniform air flow and temperaturegradient with in the solarium. A rigid box-like framework of wood, metalor other suitable material defines the structure of the solarium. Thefront and two sides are preferably all glass enclosed. The back is open,but when the solarium is attached to the window frame of a building, thewindow serves to enclose the back. The upper and lower ventilators serveto enclose the top and bottom of the solarium when necessary. The upperventilator is hinged at its back edge; the lower ventilator at its frontedge. Thus, when the ventilators are in an open position, air coming inat the bottom flows upwardly and across the interior of the solarium,escaping from the top. The lower ventilator acts as a baffie to protectagainst strong wind conditions, while the current of escaping air fromthe top acts as a curtain tending to prevent the entrance of outside airat that point.

A more complete understanding of my development may be gained byreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric projection of my window solarium as attached tothe window frame of a dwelling;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the solarium showing the relative positionof the ventilators.

Referring to the drawings, the solarium is generally designated by thenumeral 1. It is connected by suitable means to a window frame 2,preferably in an air-tight sealing relationship. The solarium comprisesa rigid framework 3 and glass areas 4, supported by the framework 3. Anupper ventilator 5, comprising a frame 6 and glass 7, is hinged at itsback edge 8 and held. in variably adjustable positions by an upperbracket 9. The lower ventilator 10 is hinged at its front edge 11 and isheld in variably adjustable positions by a lower bracket 12. The lowerventilator 10 is adapted to hold humidifying agents, such as peat mossor sawdust containing water, and is preferably designed as a shallow,rectangular pan in which the humidifying agents may be placed, the edgeof the pan acting to hold the humidifying agents on the ventilator whenit is tilted. When so designed, it is provided with a suitable drainagehole 13 to facilitate the escape of excess fluids.

The interior of the solarium 1 is provided with a plurality ofadjustable shelves 14, upon which the plants may be positioned. Theshelves are constructed preferably of numerous slats to permit aircirculation therethrough. Usual access to the solarium is gained via thewindow of the dwelling.

The movement of the air within the solarium 1 is initiated by the energyof the suns rays. As the suns rays pass through the glass areas 4 and 7,the air inside the solarium 1 is warmed. Under this warming influencethe air expands and rises and if the ventilator 5, is opened will escapefrom the top of the solarium 1. The escaping air is replaced by coolerair entering through the bottom of the solarium when ventilator 10 isopen. Although the air near the top of the solarium will be warmer thanthat at the bottom, a substantially constant temperature gradient may bemaintained by adjusting the degree of opening of the ventilators 5 and10. To maintain a uniform flow rate of ascending air and to maintain asubstantially constant temperature gradient, either or both of theventilators 5 and 16 may be adjusted until the desired result isobtained. Generally, the colder the outside air, the greater the degreeof closure necessary. Since the air movement within the solarium isprimarily dependent upon the sun and air temperature, it can be seenthat it is largely independent of outside wind conditions.

It will be noted that the upper ventilator 5 and the lower ventilator 10are hinged to the solarium 1 along opposite edges. The relative hingedpositions of the ventilators 5 and 10 is important for two reasons. Thefirst is that this particular arrangement directs the circulation of airin a stream originating substantially at the bottom inner side of thesolarium upward and across the interior of the solarium and outwardlysubstantially at the upper outer side. Thus, the air is circulatedthrough a maximum of interior space thereby bringing the beneficialresults of air and humidity to all plants. The second reason is that theinterior environment of the solarium is well protected from thedisrupting effects of outside wind currents. The ventilator 10 beinghinged at its outer edge acts as a bafile to wind currents. A furtheradvantage of having the upper ventilator 5 oppositely hinged, is thatthe escaping flow of warm air at that point tends to act as a countercurrent or curtain against outside air currents.

A more suitable plant environment is created by placing humidifyingagents upon the lower ventilator 10. By so placing these humidifyingagents, the circulation of air entering in the bottom of the solariumwill pass over and pick up moisture from the humidifying agents and aidin the uniform and thorough distribution of moisture within thesolarium. The lower ventilator being preferably constructed to holdhumidifying agents, is also a suitable point at which to place a heatingcoil 15 when additional warmth is required during the winter months.

35 The location of the heating coil 15 among the humiditying agents alsopromotes the evaporation of the necessary water vapors.

I claim:

1. A window solarium comprising in combination a box-like rigidframework adapted to be attached to a window frame, glass areas held bysaid framework and enclosing three sides, an imperforate upperventilator, said upper ventilator being hinged at its inner edge to saidframework and substantially sealed along said inner edge, and a lowerventilator having a drainage outlet, said lower ventilator beingimperforate except for said drainage outlet and further being hinged atits outer edge to said framework and substantially sealed along saidouter edge.

2. A window solarium comprising in' combination a box-like rigidframework adapted to be attached to a window frame, glazed areassupported by said framework and enclosing three sides of said solarium,said solarium being enclosed on its fourth side by the windowpane ofsaid window frame, an imperforate' upper ventilator having a rigid framesupporting a glazed area, said upper ventilator being hinged at itsinner edge to said framework and substantially sealed along said inneredge, an upper bracket connecting said upper ventilator to said rigidframework whereby said upper ventilator may be held in varying degreesof openness, a lower ventilator having a drainage outlet, said lowerventilator being imperforate except for said drainage outlet and hingedat its outer edge in substantially sealed relationship to saidframework, and a lower bracket connecting said lower ventilator to Asaid rigid framework whereby said lower ventilator may be held invarying degrees of openness.

3. A window solarium comprising in combination a box-like rigidframework defining a front, a back, two sides, a top and a bottom, saidframework being adapted to be attached at its back to a window frame,said framework being constructed such that said top slopes downward fromsaid back to said front, glazed areas supported by said frameworkenclosing said front and said sides, an imperforate upper ventilatorcomprising a frame and a glazed area, said upper ventilator beingfurther hinged in substantially sealed relationship to said framework atthe back edge of said top, an adjustable upper bracket connected to saidupper ventilator and said framework whereby said upper ventilator can bemaintained in various positions of openness, a lower ventilator, saidlower ventilator having a drainage outlet and being imperforate exceptfor said drainage outlet, said lower ventilator further being hinged insubstantially sealed relationship to the front edge of said bottom, andan adjustable lower bracket connected to said framework whereby saidlower ventilator can be maintained in various positions of openness.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS650,614 Roeseler May 29, 1900 1,214,057 Moore Jan. 30, 1917 1,617,384Fisk Feb. 15, 1927 1,954,674 Lager Apr. 10, 1934 2,074,872 Thorin Mar.23, 1937

1. A WINDOW SOLARIUM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BOX-LIKE RIGIDFRAMEWORK ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A WINDOW FRAME, GLASS AREAS HELD BYSAID FRAMEWORK AND ENCLOSING THREE SIDES, AN IMPERFORATE UPPERVENTILATOR, SAID UPPER VENTILATOR BEING HINGED AT ITS INNER EDGE TO SAIDFRAMEWORK AND SUBSTANTIALLY SEALED ALONG SAID INNER EDGE, AND A LOWERVENTILATOR HAVING A DRAINAGE OUTLET, SAID LOWER VENTILATOR BEINGIMPERFORATE EXCEPT FOR SAID DRAINAGE OUT-